Showtime picks up Chicago-based pilot from Common

Chicago native Common is executive producing a pilot for Showtime.

Showtime has ordered up a pilot produced by hip-hop artist and actor Common that’s slated to begin filming in Chicago later this year.

The hour-long drama is billed as a “relevant, timely and distinctive coming-of-age story of a young African-American male in which just growing up can be a matter of life and death.” It’s set on Chicago’s South Side, where Common grew up, and is written by fellow Chicago native Lena Waithe (“Dear White People,” “Bones”).

Lena Waithe | Showtime

“Her script really knocked me out,” said Showtime chief David Nevins, who made the announcement Tuesday at the TV critics’ press tour in Beverly Hills, Calif.

Grammy and Academy Award-winner Common (“Selma,” “Hell on Wheels”) will produce the project. Clark Johnson (“Homeland,” “The Wire”) is on board to direct.

“The two creative forces behind the show, both hailing from Chicago’s South Side, give this pilot an unparalleled authenticity,” Nevins said in a written statement. “Lena Waithe is an extremely fresh, talented young writer with a unique voice and a deeply thoughtful perspective into the world where she grew up. I immediately gravitated to her script, which is emotional, funny, tragic and relevant, all at once. And, we are so fortunate to have artist and visionary Common for his first producing project in scripted television.”

Multi-hyphenate Waithe is a writer, producer and actor named “one of 10 comics to watch” by Variety. She produced the indie film “Dear White People,” winner of a Special Jury Prize at Sundance. Her writing credits include the Fox drama “Bones” and the viral video “Shit Black Girls Say.”

Common won a Golden Globe and Oscar for best original song for “Glory” in the film “Selma,” where he co-starred as ’60s Civil Rights leader James Bevel.

Common as Elam Ferguson in “Hell on Wheels.” | AMC

If the pilot gets picked up to series, it will join a robust field of scripted TV dramas filming in Chicago, including “Chicago Fire,” “Chicago P.D.,” “Chicago Med” and “Empire.” Showtime’s long-running series “Shameless” also comes to Chicago about twice a year to film exteriors.

Nevins also announced the net has ordered a pilot produced by Jim Carrey. Titled “I’m Dying up Here,” the hour-long dark comedy revolves around L.A.’s stand-up scene in the ’70s. It’s written and executive producedby former stand-up comedian Dave Flebotte (“Will & Grace,” “The Bernie Mac Show”) and is scheduled to begin shooting in the fall.

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Part globetrotter and part couch potato, Lori Rackl is a former TV critic and travel writer at the Chicago Sun-Times. The Chicago native started this site to write about — you guessed it — TV and travel, two things that rank directly above food, clothing and shelter on Maslow's hierarchy of needs.

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Like to travel? Like to watch TV? Me too. I used to cover both for the Chicago Sun-Times before leaving the newspaper to write about travel and television for my own site. There's no shortage of interesting, fun stuff out there, both in the real world and on TV. That's what I want to explore at TVtrippin.com. Hope you'll come along for the ride.